The Hunter will go into lockdown for one week from 5pm tonight – people in the region can only leave home for essential reasons.
This includes Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook.
Five positive cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Hunter overnight, including three Lake Macquarie students – two students from Lake Munmorah Public and one from Morisset High (siblings).
Both schools will be deep cleaned – all staff and students have been made to temporarily isolate as a precaution.
Text messages were sound out from NSW Health this morning, warning anyone at Target Glendale between 8:30AM – 1:30PM on Sunday to self isolate and immediately get a COVID-19 test.
The University of Newcastle has also advised staff and students of a confirmed case on Callaghan campus. Anyone who was in the Auchmuty Library last Friday, July 30 between 5pm-11pm is urged to get tested and isolate.
Charlestown Square has also been told by NSW Health there were four COVID-19 exposure sites identified there.
On Thursday, 29 July 2021 between 3-5pm the Apple Store, Priceline Pharmacy, Boost Juice and Get Polished were visited by a positive case.
BREAKING | ​Charlestown Square has been told by NSW Health there have been four COVID-19 exposure sites identified at the site.
On Thursday, 29 July 2021 between 3-5pm the Apple Store, Priceline Pharmacy, Boost Juice and Get Polished were visited by a positive case. @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/QjX7j9hBHc— Lauren Kempe (@laurenkempe) August 5, 2021
New South Wales Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says health authorities believe COVID-19 spread at a gathering at Blacksmiths Beach at Lake Macquarie last Friday night.
It’s believed people from Greater Sydney attended the gathering.
There are now nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Central Coast.
Eight cases live in the same household.
Investigations are ongoing into the source of the infection.
The ninth case is linked to known cases in the Newcastle area.
Contact tracing and case investigations are ongoing.
262 cases were recorded across the state overnight.
It comes after traces of COVID-19 were also found in several Newcastle and Lake Macquarie sewage systems yesterday.
Parents of children at Maitland Christian School have received this notification this morning, explaining that two students have tested positive @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/D2ymriw0sP
— Jacinta Lee (@jacinta_lee3) August 4, 2021
Just received confirmation the federal government is sending 180,000 Pfizer vaccines to New South Wales, with the majority going to the Hunter, replacing those redirected to Sydney. They should start arriving from August 9 @nbnnews
— Jacinta Lee (@jacinta_lee3) August 5, 2021
